Halftime: 49ers can't keep pace with Todd Gurley's 3 TDs

The 49ers averaged just 232.5 yards over their first two games against the Panthers and Seahawks. They had 201 in the first half Thursday night against the Rams.

The offensive improvement didn’t mean much, however, as San Francisco hit halftime against their division rivals down 24-14.

The game was far from the defensive slog the 49ers played Sunday in Seattle. Mistakes by both teams had dramatic impacts on the first half. Brian Hoyer on the first play of scrimmage tried a short out route to Marquise Goodwin that was intercepted by Nickell Robery-Coleman.

Coleman didn’t quite make it to the end zone. But Los Angeles scored on their first offensive snap on a three-yard run by Todd Gurley, who had 53 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns at the break.

Gurley scored his second touchdown on a seven-yard catch to the right flat later in the first quarter. His third came on a 2-yard sweep to the left in the final minute of the half.

San Francisco thought it had the second possession stopped with a sack from Elvis Dumervil on third down. But cornerback Dontae Johnson was flagged for holding to extend the drive allowing Los Angeles to score.

The 49ers managed a touchdown and two field goals. Hoyer’s 9-yard scramble marked the first trip to the end zone for San Francisco this season. The Rams allowed the drive extend with an offsides penalty on on a punt. Hoyer in the first half completed 11-of-17 143 yards and was sacked three times.

Carlos Hyde was in and out of the game with a hip injury, the 49ers announced. He had 45 yards on 11 carries (4.1 average) following his 124-yard performance Sunday in Seattle.

Pierre Garçon had a game high four catches for 57 yards while the offense ran 39 offensive plays to 27 for Los Angeles. Rams quarterback Jared Goff completed 11-of-16 for 137 yards.

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